By F. Scott Faulkner
Oct. 11, 2024 – Santa Barbara County, CA
Santa Maris resident Martin Rodriguez, 33, was arrested earlier this month on arson charges.
Shortly after midnight Oct.1 Santa Maria police and fire units were dispatched to a
fire at a vacant downtown commercial building where they found the structure fully
engulfed in flames. Firefighters contained and extinguish the blaze just as
a second, smaller fire was discovered behind an occupied convenience store in the
vicinity.
According to SMPD spokesman Lt. Daniel Rios, the investigation
led officials to question the suspicious timing and proximity of the two fires.
An hour later, at 2:35 a.m., police were alerted to an act of vandalism a few blocks away
where a large storefront window had been smashed. Surveillance footage obtained
from neighboring business locations quickly led to the identification of Rodriguez.
A search of the area led to the discovery of Rodriguez “loitering near the scenes of the
crimes,” whereupon he was promptly taken into custody. He was then transported to
Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked on multiple charges of felony
vandalism and arson. He remains in custody on a no-bail hold.
